Welsh representing Owen Sound at Minto Cup

Owen Sound native Brenden Welsh, pictured here while playing with the Jr. B NorthStars in 2014, is headed to the Minto Cup in Calgary with the Brampton Excelsiors after Brampton won the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League title over the Orangeville Northmen. (James MastersOwen Sound Sun Times file photo.

When the best Junior A lacrosse teams from across the nation come together in Cowboy country next week Owen Sound will have a horse in the race.

Scenic City native Brenden Welsh was one of the Brampton Excelsiors’ leading scorers as the club beat the Orangeville Northmen in the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League finals and booked their ticket to Calgary.

“I was six years old the last time I was on a plane,” he said. “I’m really excited for the lacrosse, and also just to spend some time with the team. People have told me it’s an amazing city.”

Brampton took the best-of-seven series in five games over Owen Sound counterpart – and fellow former NorthStar – Jordan Caskenette and the Northmen.

Caskenette’s younger brother Brody is waiting in the wings for the Northmen, and Logan Swanton made the jump to Orangeville from the Junior B N’Stars this season.

Welsh said all of the Owen Sound local lax’ers are good friends, and playing against each other in finals was an eye-opening experience.

“We would talk after games and stuff, they said our offence is one of the best they have seen,” Welsh said.

Now Welsh and his teammates will go against the Coquitlam Adanacs, winners of the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League making their 10thstraight trip to the Minto Cup, Alberta’s top Jr. A team the Okotoks Raiders and the host Calgary Mountaineers in Canada’s premier junior men’s tournament.

“It’s kind of like we’re going in blind,” he said. “I am sure our coaches will know a bit about the other teams . . . I know Coquitlam has a really good goalie.”

The Six Nations Arrows won the Minto Cup in 2017. The 2018 Minto Cup schedule begins on Thursday.

The four qualifying teams will play each other in an elimination format narrowing down the top-two teams that will meet in a best-of-five series.

Welsh, a 21-year-old six-foot-two forward, had fifteen points in five games for Brampton after coming over in a trade from the Barrie Lakeshores where he spent the bulk of his OJALL career.

Before the trade Welsh had 37 points, 10 goals and 27 assists, in 15 games with the Lakeshores including 10 power-play points and a shorthanded goal.

In the playoffs Welsh really came alive with 42 points in 14 games including 12 goals and 15 points while the Excelsiors’ had the man-advantage. Those totals had him tied for third in the league in post-season scoring behind teammates Clarke Petterson, Jeff Teat, and level with Orangeville forward Kyle Waters.

“Those two players (Teat and Petterson) are honestly the best lacrosse players I’ve even been around. It’s amazing,” said Welsh.

Welsh had a 100-point season as a 17-year-old in his first full-campaign with the Owen Sound NorthStars junior B club, winning the OJBLL’s Western Conference Rookie of the Year award before moving to the Jr. A ranks.

After the Minto Cup Welsh will aim his sights at the pros. He hopes to be taken in the National Lacrosse League or Major Series Lacrosse draft, and he talked about possibly coming back to play Senior B.

“Just more lacrosse in my future for sure,” he said.

The Brampton Excelsiors last won the Minto Cup in 1952, although the Brampton ABC’s nailed down a three-peat from 1957-1959.